September 2006 - Posts

Bus Tour of Barkhamsted Hollow and Saville Dam
- September 24, 2006The weather was decent for our bus tour of Barkhamsted
Hollow and the Saville Dam
on September 24, 2006. There were just a few sprinkles here and there.
The tour covered historical sites in the Hollow- sites of former cemeteries, tavern,
churches, school and farms. Also included was a walk through the lower gate
house of the Saville Dam. After the tour, many took advantage of the open
house at the Squire's Tavern to see the progress being made on the restoration of
the building as well as the Farmington River Coordinating Committee's display of
photos and artwork relating to the Farmington River.

Photos above- Visitors at the Squire's
Tavern Open House held on September 24, 2006.

Old Home Day and Annual Meeting-
Sunday, September 10, 2006.The Historical Society celebrated the 227th
anniversary of the town of Barkhamsted on Sunday, September 10, 2006. Old
Home day is the traditional gathering of residents and former residents to celebrate
Barkhamsted's birthday, a tradition that has been carried on since the 100th
anniversary held in 1879. We continued this time-honored celebration with
a pot luck lunch on the grounds of the Center Congregational Church on Old Town
Hall Road. After lunch, we walked to the nearby Center Schoolhouse and held
the Historical Society's annual meeting.

After the meeting, Walt Landgraf
led a walking tour of historic sites down to the west side of the Barkhamsted Reservoir
to visit a number of significant locations including the original sites of the Center
School, the Merrill Tavern, the Center Cemetery and militia parade grounds and a
view across the reservoir where Barkhamsted Hollow farmhouses and other buildings
once stood.

Photo above- the traditional Old Home Day group photo on the steps of the Center
Church.

Photo above- Annual meeting of the Historical Society at the Center Schoolhouse.
Walt Landgraf (standing in front of blackboard), president of the Barkhamsted Historical
Society, starts the meeting as Town Historian Doug Roberts (in blue shirt) speaks.

Photo above- Walt Landgraf talks about historic sites at Barkhamsted Hollow on the
west shore of the Barkhamsted Reservoir.